‘Hijacking’ tops Les Arcs fest

Hostage thriller earns kudos for best film, best actor

PARIS– Danish Tobias Lindholm’s “A Hijacking” won top kudos at Les Arcs European Film Festival which wrapped Saturday in the French Alps.

Repped by TrustNordisk, “A Hijacking,” a hostage thriller centering on a Danish cargo ship ambushed by Somali pirates in the Indian Ocean, won the Crystal Arrow for best film and actor for Soren Malling.

Pic will be distributed in France by Ad Vitam on June 19.

Goran Paskaljevic’s poignant drama “When Day Breaks” won the audience choice award. “Day” turns on a retired professor who learns he’s the son of Jewish concentration camp victims. Sophie Dulac will handle the Gallic roll-out.

Pic was chosen to represent Serbia in the Oscar’s Foreign-language race but didn’t make it on the short list.

Both “Hijacking” and “Day” bowed at Toronto.

Les Arcs’ Jury, presided by Romanian helmer Cristian Mungiu, gave its nod to Pablo Berger’s “Blancanieves,” a Spanish take on the fairy tale and a black-and-white homage to European silent cinema. Pic also earned best score to Alfonso de Vilallonga.

“Blancanieves,” repped by 6 Sales, has just been selected to open Palme Springs Film Fest on Jan. 3. Rezo will release the pic in France on Jan. 23, and Cohen Media Group will distribute it Stateside.

“The Fifth Season” directed by Belgian duo Jessica Woodworth and Peter Brosens nabbed photography, thesp for Aurelia Poirier and the Cineuropa nod, an award given to a European production and co-pro. A fable set in an Ardennes village that is perpetually stuck in winter, pic competed at Venice and will be distributed in France by Equation.